Italian Festival

A new lease of life for the ancient Baths of Sofia. After more than 30 years, this distinguished old building in central Sofia has donned a new suit and is out to show Sofians that there is plenty left in it yet.

CABINET'S POLICY SHOWS CLEAR TENDENCY FOR LIVING STANDARD IMPROVEMENT IN BULGARIA- PM

"Bulgaria is a financially stable and predictable country," Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev said during his presentation of a two-year report of the Cabinet's work. Stanishev said that the Cabinet's policy outlined a clear tendency toward improving standard of living in Bulgaria and the dynamically developing economy. State budget revenue in the end of June 2007 was 7.7 billion leva, an increase of nearly 18 per cent

MIDDLE CLASS IN BULGARIA OPTIMISTIC ABOUT FUTURE AFTER EU ACCESSION- POLL

Most people from Bulgaria's middle feel secure about their future after the country's European Union (EU) accession, research of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Gallup International showed. UNDP permanent representative in Bulgaria Neil Buhne and UNDP head of communication department Maya Nyagolova took part in the conference presenting the results of the research.

2500 POLICE OFFICERS RESPONSIBLE FOR SECURITY DURING BUSH'S VISIT TO BULGARIA

Nearly 2500 policemen will be responsible for the security during the visit of US president George W. Bush to Bulgaria on June 11 2007. Foreign Minister Ivailo Kalfin said that the measures will be "reduced to the possible minimum." Sofia will be divided into two security zones, he said. The first zone features restricted access. Access to the Presidential office, the Council of Ministers building and the

One night at Bulgaria's election centre...

Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev, leader of the Bulgarian Socialist Party: The parties failed to convince people of the importance of voting and of the European institutions. Taking into consideration the positive attitude towards the EU in Bulgaria, voter turnout was low. The results were below our expectations, taking into consideration the positive campaign and our strong MEP list. Negative managed to defeat the

RULING PARTY IN BULGARIA LOST 700 000 SUPPORTERS IN MEP ELECTIONS-STOILOV

"Our party lost 700 000 of its supporters, almost two thirds of our electorate since the previous elections," Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) supreme council representative Yanaki Stoilov said. Stoilov presented BSP's official position on the results of the members of European Parliament (MEP) elections held in Bulgaria for the first time on May 20. "Election results show that the trust in the political system decreased

CIGARETTE EXCISE DUTY HIKE NEEDED IN BULGARIA- BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO

Bulgaria has to increase the excise on tobacco products in order to meet European Union requirements, manager of tobacco taxation in Europe at the Belgian representation of British American Tobacco (BAT) Francois Osete said. BAT held a conference on the tobacco products market development. The meeting focused on the excise duty on cigarettes and illicit trade. According to current EU requirements for

PARTY OF BULGARIAN TURKS TAKES NARROW LEAD IN BULGARIA'S MEP ELECTIONS- EXIT POLL

The Movement for Rights and Freedoms, the party supported mainly by Bulgarians of ethnic Turkish descent, took the lead with 21.7 per cent of votes in the country's first European Parliament elections. According to polling agency Sova Harris, at about 9pm with 95 per cent of votes counted, the MRF had 21.7 per cent, the Bulgarian Socialist Party-led Platform of European Socialists 21.3 per cent and GERB, the party

Socialists, Sofia mayor's party each get five seats in Bulgaria's European Parliament elections

The Bulgarian Socialist Party-led Platform of European Socialists and Sofia mayor Boiko Borissov's Citizens for the European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) "tied" in each getting five seats in the country's first European Parliament elections, according to exit polls. At 8pm, according to polling agency Sova Harris, GERB had 27.9 per cent and the socialists 27.6 per cent. This was the first time that GERB, formally

EXPEDITION TO EXAMINE ANCIENT THRACIAN CITIES IN BULGARIA

A major archaeological campaign examining the ancient Thracian cities of Perperikon and Tatul will start on May 28, expedition leader Nikolay Ovcharov said. Perperikon is located in the eastern Rhodope Mountain region, 15km from the town of Kurdzhali. The ancient town is thought to have been a sacred place. Perperikon is the largest megalith ensemble on the Balkans. Tatul was discovered in 2000. It supposedly dates back

PEOPLE IN BULGARIA UNINFORMED OF SUPREME JUDICIAL COUNCIL WORK-POLL

Bulgarians lack information on the work of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), research of the Institute of Sociology of Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS) shows. US Agency for International Development (USAID) provided funding. Head of the Plovdiv Court of Appeal Radka Petrova said that the project launched to popularise the work of the SJC was of importance. USAID Judicial Strengthening Initiative (SJI)

COCA-COLA INVESTS IN SPRING WATER PLANT RENOVATION IN BULGARIA'S BANKYA

Coca Cola Hellenic Bottling Company (HBC) invested in the renovation of a plant for spring water bottling in the Bulgarian spa resort of Bankya. Sofia mayor Boiko Borisov and Coca Cola HBC country manager Nigel Davis opened the renovated factory in Bankya on April 23. Over 300 official guests took part in the event among which the deputy ambassador of US to Bulgaria Alexander Karagiannis, representatives of

EUROPEAN CULTURES PRESENTED DURING EXHIBITION IN BULGARIA'S CAPITAL

Sofia Art Gallery hosted the opening of europe.art exhibition dedicated to Bulgaria's EU accession and the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome. Foreign Minister Ivailo Kalfin opened the exhibition on April 17. State Institute of Culture (SIC) and Sofia Art Gallery organised the event. Europe.art includes works from the collections of Bulgarian Foreign Ministry and works provided by the embassies of several

Banking briefs

Medical ruling delayed

Sofia City Court psychiatrist Ruslan Terziiski requested an extension of the court's medical examination of Daniela Terziiska (no relation) on Tuesday.

Medical ruling delayed

Sofia City Court psychiatrist Ruslan Terziiski requested an extension of the court's medical examination of Daniela Terziiska (no relation) on Tuesday.

Group to `seek truth' about child murder

A MOVEMENT has formed to `seek the truth' behind the murder of three-year-old Petar Terziiski - although the boy's mother has confessed to it.